Filter cartridge

ABSTRACT

A filter cartridge for operatively engaging a manifold having an ejection cam and an insertion cam. The filter cartridge includes a filter element and inlet/outlet portion in fluid communication with the filter element.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/459441, filed Apr. 30, 2012, now allowed, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/325,175, filed Dec. 14, 2011,entitled “SPOOL VALVE MANIFOLD INTERCONNECT FOR A FILTER SYSTEM,” whichis a continuation of commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/435,676, filed May 16, 2006, by Tubby, entitled “SPOOL VALVE MANIFOLDINTERCONNECT FOR A FILTER SYSTEM,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No.8,097,158, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/681,649, filed May 16, 2005, entitled SPOOL VALVEINTERCONNECT FOR A FILTER SYSTEM, the disclosures of each are hereinincorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent with thepresent disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates in general to a system operativelypositioned in a fluid supply system comprising a manifold assembly and areplaceable fluid filter cartridge containing filter media, the manifoldassembly having the capability for facilitating the removal of a firstreplaceable fluid filter cartridge and then having the capability forfacilitating the installation of another replaceable fluid filtercartridge therein in a fluid supply system and, in particular, to aspool valve manifold assembly that facilitates the quick and easyremoval and installation of the replaceable fluid filter cartridges fromand into the manifold assembly.

Manifold assemblies having the capability for facilitating the removalof a first fluid filter cartridge and then having the capability forfacilitating the installation of another replaceable fluid filtercartridge in a fluid supply system for industrial, commercial andconsumer use are widely known throughout the industry. For example, mostmodern refrigerators, which provide drinking water and produce ice, andbeverage dispensing machines, such as coffee makers and soda dispensers,use an internal fluid filtration system having replaceable fluid filtercartridges for filtering certain contaminates from the fluid, such as,water.

Given the use of relatively small amount of filter media containedwithin the compact replaceable fluid filter cartridges, frequentreplacement of the replaceable fluid filter cartridges within the fluidfiltration system is required. Therefore, these filtration systems aretypically equipped with replacement filter cartridges that can bedisengaged from a filtration system and replaced.

Unfortunately, such fluid filtration system may not always be placed inthe most accessible location or at the most desirable orientation for auser to remove the old fluid filter cartridge and install a new one.Further compounding the problem of removing the old fluid filtercartridge from the fluid supply system is that the flow of fluid fromthe system must be shut off prior to removal of the replacement fluidfilter cartridge.

An example of a prior art filter and valve apparatus providing forreplacement of an encapsulated filter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,579,455 to Muzik et al. Muzik discloses a gate-type valve, wherein areceptacle disk for receiving a filter is rotatably coupled to an upperplate having fluid supply inlet and outlet ports. The receptacle diskincludes through passages for receiving inlet and outlet ports of thefilter. When there is no filter inserted into these passages, thepassages are not aligned with the fluid supply inlet and outlet ports ofthe upper plate. After insertion of the filter into the receptacle disk,the filter and the receptacle disk can be rotated around thelongitudinal axis of the filter to align the inlet and outlet ports ofthe filter with the inlet and outlet ports of the fluid supply.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,530 to Breda and U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,698 to Wichmanndisclose spool valves.

One disadvantage of the prior art is that the valves can become hard tooperate due to the sealing O-rings taking a compression set over time.Because of this compression set, a high breaking force to initially movethe valve is required.

Thus, there is a need for an inexpensive, reliable device that canprovide for the quick and easy replacement of filter cartridges in afluid filtration system. There is a further need for a device that canintegrate the replacement of the filter cartridge with the opening andclosing of the valve and that can be operated with a minimum of force.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One representative embodiment of the present disclosure includes a spoolvalve manifold for use with a fluid filter cartridge having aninlet/outlet portion that includes a cartridge inlet port and acartridge outlet port. The spool valve manifold includes a valve housinghaving a housing inlet port and a housing outlet port and a valve bodylocated within the valve housing and configured to rotate around a firstaxis relative to the valve housing. The valve body is configured toreceive the inlet/outlet portion of the filter cartridge via insertionof the inlet/outlet portion into the valve body in a directionperpendicular to the first axis. The housing inlet port and thecartridge inlet port are in fluid communication via a first fluid flowpath and the housing outlet port and the cartridge outlet port are influid communication via a second fluid flow path when the valve body isat a first rotational position relative to the valve housing. Thehousing inlet port and the cartridge inlet port are not in fluidcommunication and the housing outlet port and the cartridge outlet portare not in fluid communication when the valve body is at a secondrotational position relative to the valve housing.

Another representative embodiment of the present disclosure includes afilter cartridge and spool valve manifold assembly having a filtercartridge and a spool valve manifold. The filter cartridge includes afilter media element and inlet/outlet portion in fluid communicationwith the filter element. The inlet/outlet portion has a cartridge inletport and a cartridge outlet port. The spool valve manifold includes ahousing and a body. The housing has a housing inlet port and a housingoutlet port adapted for fluid communication with a fluid supply system.The body is located within the housing and configured to rotate around afirst axis relative to the housing. The inlet/outlet portion of thefilter cartridge is fluidly coupled to the body via insertion of theinlet/outlet portion into the body in a direction perpendicular to thefirst axis.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the housing inlet port and thehousing outlet port are in fluid communication via a third fluid flowpath when the valve body is at the second rotational position relativeto the valve housing.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the housing inlet port andthe housing outlet port are not in fluid communication when the valvebody is at the second rotational position relative to the valve housing.

In even another aspect, the valve housing further may include aninsertion cam component configured to cooperate with a complementaryinsertion cam component on the filter cartridge.

In a further aspect, the valve housing further may include an ejectioncam component configured to cooperate with a complementary ejection camcomponent on the filter cartridge.

In even another aspect, the spool valve manifold further may include afirst seal located between the valve body and the valve housing andconfigured to prevent fluid leakage from the first fluid flow path and asecond seal located between the valve body and the valve housing andconfigured to prevent fluid leakage from the second fluid flow path.

In another aspect, the spool valve manifold may also include a thirdseal located between the valve body and the valve housing and configuredto prevent fluid leakage from the third fluid flow path.

In one aspect, the angle between the first and second rotationalpositions may be less than 90 degrees.

In a further aspect, the filter cartridge includes a handle at an end ofthe filter cartridge that is opposite the inlet/outlet portion.

In one aspect, a bracket is coupled to the valve housing and configuredto mount the spool valve manifold to an appliance.

In even a further aspect, a bracket is rotatably mounted adjacent thespool valve and configured to slidably hold the filter cartridge as thebody rotates from the first to the second rotational position.

Other objects and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fluid filter cartridge and spool valvemanifold assembly according to a representative embodiment of thepresent disclosure, with the assembly shown in a first rotationalposition;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the fluid filter cartridge and spool valvemanifold assembly according to the representative embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the fluid filter cartridge and spool valvemanifold assembly according to the representative embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the fluid filter cartridge andspool valve manifold assembly according to the representative embodimentof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fluid filter cartridge and spoolvalve manifold assembly, according to a representative embodiment ofFIG. 1, with the assembly shown in a second rotational position;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the fluid filter cartridge and spool valvemanifold assembly according to the aspect of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the fluid filter cartridge and spool valvemanifold assembly according to the aspect of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the fluid filter cartridge and spool valvemanifold assembly according to the aspect of FIG. 5, with the fluidfilter cartridge shown removed from the assembly;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a fluid filtercartridge according to one representative embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a portion of a fluidfilter cartridge inserted into a spool valve manifold assembly accordingto a representative embodiment of the present disclosure, with thefilter cartridge and valve body in a first rotational position;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the fluid filter cartridgeand spool valve manifold assembly, with the valve housing shownpartially transparent, and with the fluid filter cartridge and the valvebody shown in the first rotational position;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a portion of a fluidfilter cartridge inserted into a spool valve manifold assembly accordingto a representative embodiment of the present disclosure, with the fluidfilter cartridge and the valve body in a second rotational position;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a portion of the fluid filter cartridgeand spool valve manifold assembly, with the valve housing shownpartially transparent, and with the fluid filter cartridge and the valvebody in a second rotational position;

FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the representativeembodiment of FIG. 1, showing one aspect of the insertion and ejectioncam components, with the fluid filter cartridge and the valve body in afirst rotational position;

FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the representativeembodiment of FIG. 1, showing one aspect of the insertion and ejectioncam components, with the fluid filter cartridge and the valve body in asecond rotational position

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the fluid filter cartridge and spoolvalve manifold assembly shown with an optional mounting enclosure;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the fluid filter cartridge and spoolvalve manifold assembly shown with a representative keying system;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the fluid filter cartridge and spoolvalve manifold assembly shown in FIG. 17 showing the filter cartridgehaving a representative keying system about to be inserted into thespool valve manifold;

FIG. 19 is a partial perspective view of a representative fluid filtercartridge and spool valve manifold assembly having a representativekeying system in the installed/operative position;

FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view of a representative fluid filtercartridge and spool valve manifold assembly having a representativekeying system in the first rotational position prior to being installedin the operative position or being withdrawal from the operativeposition;

FIG. 21 is a partial perspective view of another representative fluidfilter cartridge and spool valve manifold assembly having arepresentative keying system in the installed/operative position;

FIG. 22 is a partial perspective view of a representative fluid filtercartridge and spool valve manifold assembly having a representativeoptional inlet valve in the second rotational position prior to beinginstalled;

FIG. 23 is a partial perspective view of a representative fluid filtercartridge and spool valve manifold assembly having a representativeoptional inlet valve in the first rotational position after beinginstalled;

FIG. 24 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the representativeembodiment of FIG. 23, showing one aspect of the optional inlet valve,with the fluid filter cartridge and the valve body in a first rotationalposition or the installed position;

FIG. 25 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the representativeembodiment of FIG. 23, showing one aspect of the optional inlet valve,with the fluid filter cartridge and the valve body in a secondrotational position or the uninstalled position; and

FIG. 26 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the representativeembodiment of FIG. 23, showing a high pressure condition, with the fluidfilter cartridge and the valve body in a first rotational position andthe a poppet valve in the closed condition.

These and other features of the subject disclosure will become morereadily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from thefollowing detailed description of the representative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

As discussed hereinabove, the present disclosure overcomes severaldisadvantages associated with the prior art fluid filter systems. Theadvantages and other features of the fluid filter systems, comprising arepresentative manifold assembly and a representative replaceable fluidfilter cartridge containing filter media, disclosed herein, will becomemore readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from thefollowing detailed description of the representative embodiments takenin conjunction with the drawings which set forth some representativeembodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identifysimilar structural elements and/or features of the subject disclosure,there is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 a representative fluid filtercartridge and a representative spool valve manifold assembly constructedin accordance with an exemplary, representative embodiment of thesubject disclosure and designated generally by reference numeral 10.Filter cartridge and spool valve manifold assembly 10 includes a fluidfilter cartridge 20 and a spool valve manifold 30. As will be explainedbelow, filter cartridge and spool valve manifold assembly 10 is shown inFIGS. 1-3 in a first rotational position.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, filter cartridge 20 generally includes arepresentative sump 22 and a representative filter cover or inlet/outletportion 24. As is known in the art, a filter element 23 (see FIG. 9) islocated within sump 22. The representative filter cartridge 20 may alsoinclude handle 28.

Spool valve manifold 30 includes a representative valve housing 32 and arepresentative valve body 34. Valve body 34 rotates around axis a-arelative to valve housing 32. Spool valve manifold 30 is shown mountedwithin bracket 31 and this spool valve manifold/bracket subassembly willbe referred to as mounted spool valve manifold 33. Valve housing 32 ofspool valve manifold 30 may be snap mounted to bracket 31, althoughother assembly methods as known to persons of ordinary skill in the artcould be used. Bracket 31 may be used to mount spool valve manifold 30to the wall of an appliance (not shown) adjacent inlet and outlet portsof the fluid supply system (not shown). Valve housing 32 and bracket 31typically remain stationary.

In the illustrated representative assembled configuration,representative seals 25 and 26 are located between inlet/outlet portion24 and valve body 34 and representative seals 40, 42 and 44 are locatedbetween valve housing 32 and valve body 34. Tube connectors 50, 52, asknown in the art, are used to connected spool valve manifold 30 to thefluid supply system. Other means of connecting tubing to the valvehousing can be used such as the welded tubing attachment method that isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,670 B2, the disclosure of which isherein incorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent with thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 5-7 show filter cartridge and spool valve manifold assembly 10 ina second rotational position. As best illustrated by comparing FIG. 2 toFIG. 6, filter cartridge 20 rotates relative to bracket 31 in thedirection of arrow A (around axis a-a of FIG. 4) when moving from thefirst rotational position as illustrated in FIG. 2 to the secondrotational position as illustrated in FIG. 6. In the representativeembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, movement of filter cartridge 20 inthe direction of arrow A may be accomplished by pulling on handle 28 inthe direction of arrow B. Also, in the representative embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1-7, movement of filter cartridge 20 in thedirection of arrow A causes filter cartridge 20 to move in the directionof arrow C. Movement in the direction of arrow C is perpendicular to thedirection of axis a-a. This is due to a camming action between filtercartridge 20 and cams 36 (best illustrated in FIG. 4).

As will be described below, filter cartridge 20 is operatively coupledto valve body 34. Thus, when filter cartridge 20 rotates, valve body 34also rotates. As filter cartridge 20 is rotated from the firstrotational position to the second rotational position, cams 36 causefilter cartridge 20 to be ejected from valve body 34 and correspondinglyfrom mounted spool valve manifold 33, thereby disconnecting filtercartridge 20 from spool valve manifold 30. FIG. 8 shows filter cartridge20 removed from mounted spool valve manifold 33.

In the representative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, the anglethrough which filter cartridge 20 rotates relative to bracket 31 isapproximately 45 degrees. This angle could be more or less than 45degrees, with an angle of less than 90 degrees expected to be suitablefor most applications, although an angle of more than 90 degrees wouldlie within the scope of the disclosure.

As best illustrated in FIG. 9, one representative filter cartridge 20has an inlet/outlet portion 24 at the top end thereof for the ingressand egress of fluid into interior chamber of filter cartridge 20 andinto filter element 23. Filter element 23 may include any suitablefilter media as is known in the art. Inlet/outlet portion 24 includes arepresentative cartridge outlet port 27 having a central through borethrough which filtered fluid may exit filter cartridge 20. Cartridgeoutlet port 27 may be generally aligned with a central axis of filtercartridge 20. Circumferentially surrounding cartridge outlet port 27 arerepresentative cartridge inlet ports 29, formed as arcuate through boresthrough which unfiltered fluid may enter filter cartridge 20.Inlet/outlet portion 24 is configured as a quick connect/disconnectfitting for mating with spool valve manifold 30. A person of ordinaryskill in the art would appreciate that other inlet and outletconfigurations lie within the scope of the disclosure.

Cartridge inlet port 29 of inlet/outlet portion 24, as best illustratedin FIG. 9, channels the incoming unfiltered fluid to the outercircumferential surface of filter element 23. The unfiltered fluid thentravels radially inward through the filter media and is filtered in theprocess. The filtered fluid exits filter element 23 through cartridgeoutlet port 27.

Inlet/outlet portion 24 and other portions of filter cartridge 20, suchas sump 22, may be formed of any suitable material known to persons ofordinary skill in the art, including, but not limited to, for example,molded 20% talc-filled prolypropylene homopolymer or isoplast.Typically, a suitable material would be a standard National StandardFoundation (NSF) approved material.

Representative O-rings or other seals 25, 26 (as best illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 9) may be located around the outer circumference ofcartridge inlet ports 29 and cartridge outlet ports 27. As bestillustrated in FIG. 10, when filter cartridge 20 is installed in spoolvalve manifold 30, seals 25, 26 are located between inlet/outlet portion24 and the complementary filter cartridge mounting surfaces 38 of spoolvalve manifold body 34. Seals 25, 26 isolate and prevent leakage betweenan unfiltered fluid flow path 60 and a filtered fluid flow path 62.Seals 25, 26 may be formed from nitrile rubber (NBR) orethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) elastomers or other suitablematerials known to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 10 shows filter cartridge 20 inserted into valve body 34 of spoolvalve manifold 30 in the first rotational position. An opening 35 in thewall of valve housing 32 accommodates the insertion of filter cartridge20 into valve body 34. Opening 35 is sized to accommodate the movementof filter cartridge 20 from the first rotational position to the secondrotational position. In the first rotational position, cartridge inletport 29 is in fluid communication with a housing inlet port 39 andcartridge outlet port 27 is in fluid communication with a housing outletport 37. Unfiltered fluid from the fluid supply system (not shown) flowsinto housing inlet port 39 and into filter cartridge 20 via unfilteredfluid flow path 60 and cartridge inlet port 29. Filtered fluid flowsfrom filter cartridge 20 and out through housing outlet port 37 to thefluid supply system (not shown) via cartridge outlet port 27 andfiltered fluid flow path 62.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 10, a plug 54 may be provided to simplifythe manufacture of valve body 34 and close off unfiltered fluid flowpath 60 from the atmosphere, as would be understood by a person skilledin the molding manufacturing art.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 10 and as best illustrated in FIG. 11,seals 40 and 42 isolate unfiltered fluid flow path 60 from filteredfluid flow path 62. Specifically, seal 40 is located between valvehousing 32 and valve body 34 and surrounds unfiltered fluid flow path 60at this juncture. Seal 42 is located between valve housing 32 and valvebody 34 and surrounds filtered fluid flow path 62 at this juncture.Seals 40 and 42 may be positioned within grooves as is known in the art.

FIG. 12 shows inlet/outlet portion 24 of filter cartridge 20 insertedinto spool valve manifold 30 in the second rotational position. In thissecond rotational position, housing inlet port 39 is in fluidcommunication with a housing outlet port 37 without being in fluidcommunication with filter cartridge 20. Unfiltered fluid from the fluidsupply system (not shown) flows into housing inlet port 39 and outthrough housing outlet port 37 via bypass fluid flow path 64 (also shownin FIG. 11). Thus, unfiltered fluid from the fluid supply system (notshown) never reaches filter cartridge 20. Rather, in the secondrotational position, filter cartridge 20 is isolated from the fluidsupply system. Bypass fluid flow path 64 allows unfiltered fluid to flowdirectly to housing outlet port 37. This allows fluid to be supplied toa user downstream of filter cartridge and spool valve manifold assembly10 even if filter cartridge 20 is not filtering the fluid supply. Thus,the flow of fluid downstream of filter cartridge and spool valvemanifold assembly 10 need never be disrupted.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 10 and as best illustrated in FIGS. 11 and13, seal 44 prevents bypass fluid flow path 64 from leaking to theatmosphere. As can be seen in FIG. 11, seals 40 and 42 also preventfluid from bypass fluid flow path 64 from entering unfiltered fluid flowpath 60 and filtered fluid flow path 62. In this particularrepresentative embodiment of the present disclosure, seal 44 alsoprovides a secondary seal for unfiltered fluid flow path 60 and filteredfluid flow path 62 that prevents leakage to the atmosphere should eitherof seals 40 or 42 fail. Specifically, seal 44 is located between valvehousing 32 and valve body 34 and surrounds bypass fluid flow path 64.Seal 44 is also extended around unfiltered fluid flow path 60 andfiltered fluid flow path 62. Seal 44 is shown positioned with a grooveas is known in the art. As with seals 25 and 26, seals 40, 42 and 44 maybe formed from NBR or EPDM elastomers or other suitable materials knownto persons of ordinary skill in the art.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a representative filter cartridge 20 inserted intospool valve manifold 30 in the first rotational position and the secondrotational position, respectively. Inlet/outlet portion 24 of filtercartridge 20 includes lug 21. Valve housing 32 includes insertion cam48. Lug 21 and insertion cam 48 may be referred to as insertion camcomponents. Lug 21 interacts with insertion cam 48 when valve body 34with filter cartridge inserted is rotated from the second rotationalposition (as illustrated in FIG. 15) to the first rotational position(as illustrated in FIG. 14). As filter cartridge 20 is rotated from thesecond rotational position to the first rotational position, lug 21rides on insertion cam 48 causing cartridge 20 to be advanced into andsealingly mated with valve body 34. The interaction of the insertion camcomponents causes filter cartridge 20 to be moved opposite to thedirection of arrow C (see FIG. 8). Thus, FIG. 14 shows filter cartridge20 fully seated within valve body 34, while FIG. 15 shows filtercartridge 20 inserted into valve body 34, but not yet sealingly engagedwith valve body 34. In the representative embodiment shown, two lugs 21are provided, one on each side of inlet/outlet portion 24.Correspondingly, two insertion cams 48 are complementarily located onvalve housing 32. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate thata lug or other surface portion could be provided on valve housing 32 anda corresponding cam portion could be provided on filter cartridge 20.

FIGS. 14 and 15 also show the interaction between ejection cam 36 and ashoulder surface 46 of filter cartridge 20. Ejection cam 36 is providedon valve housing 32. Ejection cam 36 and shoulder surface 46 may bereferred to as ejection cam components. When filter cartridge 20 isrotated from the first rotational position (FIG. 14) to the secondrotational position (FIG. 15) the interaction between ejection cam 36and shoulder surface 46 slidably ejects filter cartridge 20 in thedirection of arrow C (see FIG. 8) from valve body 34. This interactionbreaks the seal between inlet/outlet portion 24 and valve body 34. Aswith the insertion cam, one of ordinary skill in the art wouldappreciate that a lug or surface portion could be provided on valvehousing 32 and a corresponding cam portion could be provided on filtercartridge 20.

Valve housing 32, valve body 34 and bracket 31 may be formed of anysuitable materials known to persons of ordinary skill in the art,including, but not limited to, isoplast or molded polypropylene. Bracket31 may also be formed from glass-filled prolypropylene or otherreinforced plastics for additional strength.

Referring back to FIGS. 1-8, a representative optional handle 28 isshown provided on filter cartridge 20 at an end opposite to theinlet/outlet portion 24 of filter cartridge 20. Handle 28 may be graspedby a user to assist in rotating filter cartridge 20 from the firstrotational position to the second rotational position, and vice versa,and also for slidingly removing the disengaged filter cartridge frommounted spool valve manifold assembly 33. Handle 28, because of itsposition at the far end of filter cartridge 20, reduces the forcerequired to break the sealing engagement between filter cartridge 20 andvalve body 34. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that ahandle or other means of grasping filter cartridge 20 could be locatedat other positions along the length of filter cartridge 20 and stillprovide a mechanical advantage for overcoming any compression set of theseals.

For instance, referring to FIG. 16, an enclosure 70 for filter cartridgeand spool valve manifold assembly 10 is shown. Enclosure 70 may bemounted to a wall or a door of an appliance or other device. Enclosure70 includes a door 72 rotationally mounted to box 74 in the vicinity ofmounted spool valve manifold assembly 33. A handle 76 is provided on oneside of door 72 and one or more brackets 78 are provided on the otherside of door 72. Brackets 78 are sized to slidably accommodate filtercartridge 20.

To insert filter cartridge 20 into mounted spool valve manifold assembly33, a user would open door 72 as illustrated in FIG. 16 and slidablyinsert filter cartridge 20 into brackets 78 such that lug 21 of filtercartridge 20 is positioned within valve housing 32 and inlet/outletportion 24 is positioned with valve body. In this rotational position(i.e. the second rotational position), housing inlet port 39 is in fluidcommunication with housing outlet port 37 via bypass fluid flow path 64.Upon rotating and closing door 72, filter cartridge 20 is slidablydriven into sealing engagement with valve body 34 by the interaction oflug 21 with insertion cam 48 as filter cartridge 20 is rotated into thefirst rotational position. In this first rotational position, asdescribed above, housing inlet port 39 is in fluid communication withcartridge inlet port 29 via fluid flow path 60 and housing outlet port37 is in fluid communication with cartridge outlet port 27 via fluidflow path 62, thereby allowing fluid from the fluid supply system to befiltered through filter cartridge 20. To remove filter cartridge 20 frommounted spool valve manifold assembly 33, door 72 is rotated open,thereby slidably driving filter cartridge 20 away from valve body 34 andbreaking the sealing engagement of filter cartridge 20 with valve body34 by the interaction of shoulder surface 46 and ejection cam 36.

Due to the simple action of installing the filter cartridge 20 into themounted spool valve manifold assembly 33, the mounted spool valvemanifold assembly 33 can easily be mounted in any orientation andlocation in or on an appliance or other appropriate device, as would beunderstood by those skilled in the art. This allows manufactures, suchas, for example, appliance manufactures multiple configurations to bestsuit their application without the need for costly changes to the filtersystem.

While it may appear that it would be possible to prevent a cartridgefrom being inserted into the spool valve manifold by having differentlug 21 sizes, shapes and locations and combinations thereof along withcomplimentary insertion cams 48 to effectuate such prevention of anunapproved cartridge from being used in the system, not all suchmodifications would be optimal and might lead to other issues, as thecartridge lug features are presently believed to be shaped to provideoptimum insertion and removal force for the cartridge. By making changessignificant enough to prevent an unapproved cartridge from beinginstalled into the manifold, it is presently believed that the cartridgelug shape would have to be changed so that the insertion forces would besignificantly increased and the presently believed results would beincreased difficulty for operation by the user to activate the valve. Itis also presently believed that the forces to un-install the cartridgewould also be increased and thus, the system would most likely becomemore difficult to use by an average user.

Also due to the limited geometry of the cartridge lugs, there would be avery limited number of combinations that would fit thus minimizing theeffectiveness of the design for multiple combinations.

The filter cartridge 20 and the spool valve manifold interface eachinclude complimentary key structures. Such complimentary key structuresare specifically designed so that only specific type of filter cartridgehaving the one specific complimentary key structure pattern, out of aplurality of possible key complimentary structure pattern(s) availablefor such use, can be installed in the spool valve manifold interface(s)having the matching specific complimentary key structure.

One representative system includes a keying system achieved by amechanical system, as illustrated in FIGS. 17-21, where the variouskeying features of the filter cartridge have to align and mate correctlywith various keying features on the spool valve manifold interfacelocated on the spool valve manifold, the keying features being selectedfrom any operable combination of a plurality of sizes, shapes andlocations and combinations thereof with respect to protrusions anddepressions formed on the filter cartridge 20 and the spool valvemanifold 30, as would be known to those skilled in the art. Mechanicalkeying systems, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,458,269 and6,949,189 B2, entitled Keyed Filter Assembly, owned by the assignee ofthe present application disclose exemplary approaches that are similarto and could be applicable to possible specific embodiments of thepresent disclosure and are herein incorporated by reference to theextent not inconsistent with the present disclosure.

One representative mechanical keying system 80 is illustrated in FIGS.17-21. These Figures illustrate the basic principle of the concept andare not intended to disclose all possible combinations of the pluralityof various of protrusions and depressions and other operablecombinations that can be formed in the interfacing component of thecartridge and in the corresponding receiving component of the spoolvalve manifold, as would be understood by those skilled in the art.

FIGS. 17, 18 and 20 illustrate the concept and in the lining up of thekeying structures 82, 84 that have been formed on an appropriatecomponent of the filter cartridge and the spool valve manifoldrespectively. Specifically, as illustrated, a relatively largerprotrusion 86 is formed on one side of the filter cartridge neck 88 anda relatively smaller protrusion 90 is formed on the other side of thefilter cartridge neck 88 and complementary sized depressions or cut-outs91, 92 are formed on the corresponding portion of the spool valvemanifold (FIGS. 19 and 20) such that, when the lug 21 is inserted intothe insertion cam 48, the filter cartridge is operatively inserted intothe spool valve manifold, as best illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 21.

As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the sizes shapes andnumbers of complementary protrusions/depressions can be nearlyinfinitely varied with a limit being the practical consequences ofhaving too many complementary members on any one filter orcartridge/spool valve manifold combination.

Keying systems that perform the selective interfacing function can alsobe obtained through the use of other non-mechanical technologies suchas, but not limited to, RFID tags, magnetic readers and bar code readersand other operative systems known in the art. In these non-mechanicaltypes of keys, electronics would be used to control the activation ofthe solenoid valves that are used to control the flow of water from thefilter cartridge to the end appliance or dispenser, as evidenced by thedisclosure contained in US Patent Application Publication No. US2006/0060512 A1, entitled, System For Monitoring the Performance ofFluid Treatment Cartridges, published Mar. 23, 2006, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference to the extent not inconsistentwith the present disclosure, as would be understood by those skilled inthe art.

One possible optional inlet component that can be incorporated into themanifold assembly of the present disclosure provides a mechanism forconverting the system to a “shut-off” style system when a filtercartridge is not installed in the spool valve manifold. This optionalcomponent (a modified inlet) utilizes a poppet valve that is controlledby a cam surface on the valve spool valve manifold. When the spool valvemanifold is turned to the filter cartridge un-install position, thepoppet valve will close thus arresting the flow of fluid though thespool valve manifold. When the spool valve manifold is turned to thefilter mode position (filter installed position), the poppet valve willbe forced open to allow fluid to flow through the spool valve manifoldand into the filter cartridge.

As illustrated in FIGS. 22-26, the modified inlet assembly 100 isconfigured as a “floating” assembly. The floating assembly is springloaded such that, as internal pressure in the filter cartridge and thespool valve manifold increase, the inlet subassembly will start to pushaway from the spool valve manifold and the poppet valve will start toclose. Once a predetermined pressure is reached at the inlet, the inletsubassembly will be pushed away from the spool valve manifold a distancesufficient for the poppet valve to seat (close) and thus shutoff thefluid flow into the spool valve manifold and subsequently into thefilter cartridge.

The spool valve manifold 30 component of the liquid filter cartridge andspool valve manifold assembly 10, according to the present disclosure,presently preferably, comprises three sections; those being the inletassembly 100, the filter interconnect structure 102 and the outletassembly 104. The inter-relationship of these three sub-componentscontrols the flow of fluid, presently preferably, water into and out ofthe filter cartridge 20. In the illustrated representative embodiment,the inlet assembly 100 is a sprung element. By the term, “sprungelement,” we mean that, as the filter cartridge 20 is installed into andremoved from the manifold assembly 30, the inlet assembly 100 willtraverse up and down with the movement of the filter cartridge neck orstem 88.

As illustrated, the spool valve manifold inlet assembly 30 comprises arepresentative outlet assembly 102; a representative inlet assembly 100,a representative inlet return spring 106 and a representative inletreturn stop 108.

As illustrated in FIGS. 22-26, one presently preferred embodiment of theinlet assembly 100, according to the present disclosure, comprises arepresentative inlet 110, a representative inlet connector 112, arepresentative poppet valve 114, a representative poppet valve spring116, a representative collet 118 a representative collet retainer 120,and representative sealing structure or o-rings 122.

Inlet assembly 100 comprises a head interface section 123, forinterfacing with the filter interconnect structure (Head) 124, andcomprises inlet connector 112 for receiving sealing structure, such as,for example, an o-ring 125, operatively positioned therein, an inletpoppet valve 114 having a spring operatively positioned thereon forbiasing the poppet valve 114 toward the filter cartridge 20, when afilter cartridge is positioned in the liquid filtration system isoperatively positioned in the spool valve manifold assembly 10.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 25-26, an inlet return spring 106 isprovided and operatively interfaces with the inlet assembly 100, as willbe described in more detail below.

Since the inlet assembly 100 is a sprung element, the inlet assembly 100will also traverse up and down due to fluid pressure when the cartridgeis installed in the manifold assembly 30. Specifically, the poppet value114 is always engaged with the filter cartridge poppet interface 126when the filter cartridge is installed and the poppet valve 114 isbiased in the open position. However, as the fluid pressure of theliquid filtration system (not shown) is increased, the inlet assembly100 will start to move up and away from the filter cartridge 20. As theliquid pressure increase is continued, the inlet assembly 100 will movefar enough away from the filter cartridge 20 that the poppet valve 114will close, thus shutting off the inlet liquid pressure, as illustratedin FIG. 26.

To have a fluid filtration system with a mechanism that allows thefilter to translate in and out (click-in/click-out), it has been foundthat at least one of the ports that control water flow (inlet or outletport) into or out of the system must be allowed to “float.”

In a static condition (i.e. the fluid filtration system is full of fluidor water, but the outlet port is closed, so that no water can movethrough the fluid filtration system), water is trapped in everyvolumetric cavity that can contain water (this is basically betweenevery pressurized O-ring).

Therefore, in order to translate the filter cartridge forward, thesevolumetric cavities need to be able to translate with the filter (thisbasically requires that a column of water be moved without changing itsvolume).

If the inlet 110 of the present disclosure were not allowed tomove/translate/float, the column of water that is trapped between thefilter O-rings would not be able to translate and would have to becompressed. If these columns of water were required to compress in orderto effectuate filter translation, as the filter cartridge is pushedforward during un-install, the force to compress the water that istrapped between the filter O-rings would be extremely high due tohydraulic pressure required to compress water.

Therefore, the benefits derived from the optional “floating” inlet havebeen found to be quite desirable to the successful operation of thisparticular representative embodiment of the present disclosure. While wehave illustrated the inlet as the “floating” component, it should beunderstood that the outlet or other valve sub assembly that enableswater to be displaced without compressing the water could also beutilized as the “floating” component.

This phenomenon of the inlet assembly 100 floating according to theamount of fluid pressure in the system transforms the system of thepresent disclosure into an automatic liquid shut-off system. Asillustrated in FIG. 26, the liquid pressure increases past a selected,predetermined desired maximum operating system pressure, the poppetvalve 114 will be closed thereby closing the poppet valve inlet 130 andautomatically shutting-off liquid flow to the filter cartridge 20 by themovement of the inlet assembly 100 away from the filter cartridge 20.Once the liquid pressure decreases to a level that is within theselected, operating pressure of the system, the poppet valve inlet 130will open, see FIG. 24, thereby allowing the fluid to flow into andthrough the filter cartridge 20 exiting the liquid filtration system viathe outlet 110, as illustrated in FIG. 24.

Because the liquid filtration system (not shown) and utilized with thepresent disclosure is capable of automatically controlling the operatingpressure limits, some unique system safety features directly resulttherefrom. For example, if the liquid filtration system were toexperience a water spike (i.e. water hammer) or high pressure, thedownstream components of the inlet assembly (i.e. head, bracket, filtercartridge, outlet assembly, etc) would not be subjected to this waterspike or high pressure, greater than about 100 psi. Specifically, as theillustrated in FIG. 26, the inlet assembly 132 has moved more distantfrom the poppet valve 114, as compared to FIG. 25, thereby moving thepoppet valve seat out of contact with the spool valve manifold 10 andthus preventing the flow of liquid into or out of filter cartridge.

Due to this unique and innovative safety feature, the downstreamcomponents of the manifold assembly 30 and filter cartridge 20 do notneed to be constructed to withstand such high pressure events. Not beingrequired to construct the down stream components to withstand such ahigh pressure would enable the liquid filtration system manufacturer torealize a significant cost savings in the types of material that need tobe used and the strength of those materials used. Fluid filter systems,manufactured in accordance with the present disclosure, could now bebuilt with lower price commodity materials and relatively thin wallsections, as compared to the materials and wall thickness now common insuch systems. Utilization of lower price commodity materials andrelatively thin wall sections would dramatically reduce the cost of eachcomponent from a material cost and a manufacturing cost perspective.

Thus, it is possible to produce a plurality of representative fluidfilter systems in accordance with the present disclosure, as describedabove, which can be customized to whatever pressures limits to which themanufacture desires that the overall fluid filter system should becontrolled. As should be understood, shut-off pressures are controlledby the inlet return/compression spring 106 and by changing thecharacteristics of this inlet return/compression spring 106 the openingpressure and the shutoff pressure can be varied, in accordance withknown principles.

The poppet valve 114 of the inlet assembly 100 has the ability toshutoff flow at high pressures and reset itself or return to normal flowoperation once the pressure level falls back below a predeterminedmaximum limit. This predetermined maximum limit can be simply modifiedby adjusting the strength of the inlet return spring, as would be knownto those skilled in the art.

Although the present disclosure has been described and illustrated withrespect to example embodiments, it is apparent that modifications andchanges can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scopeof the presently disclosed fluid filtration system comprising a fluidfiltration assembly and a replaceable fluid filter cartridge containingfilter media, the fluid filtration assembly having the capability forfacilitating the removal of a first replaceable fluid filter cartridgeand then having the capability for facilitating the installation ofanother replaceable fluid filter cartridge therein in a fluid supplysystem and, in particular, to the spool valve manifold assembly thatfacilitates the quick and easy removal and installation of thereplaceable fluid filter cartridges from and into the fluid filtrationassembly as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A filter cartridge comprising: a sump; aninlet/outlet portion extending from one end of the sump having anoutside diameter that is smaller than an outside diameter of the sump,and comprising an inlet port circumferentially surrounding an outletport aligned with a central axis of the filter cartridge; a first lug onthe inlet/outlet portion protruding outwardly from a surface of theinlet/outlet portion in a radial direction perpendicular to the centralaxis; a shoulder surface that is formed by the intersection of the sumpand the inlet/outlet portion; a filter disposed within the sump; and thefirst lug comprising a curved surface facing the shoulder surface, thecurved surface being axially spaced from the shoulder surface to form aspace between the curved surface and the shoulder surface.
 2. The filtercartridge of claim 1 wherein the curved surface comprises a half-moonshape.
 3. The filter cartridge of claim 1 further comprising amechanical keying system on the inlet/outlet portion.
 4. The filtercartridge of claim 3 wherein the mechanical keying system comprisesprotrusions and depressions on the inlet/outlet portion.
 5. The filtercartridge of claim 1 wherein the inlet/outlet portion further comprisesone or more protrusions that protrude outwardly in a radial directionperpendicular to the central axis.
 6. The filter cartridge of claim 5wherein the one or more protrusions are complementary to one or moredepressions on a manifold.
 7. A filter cartridge comprising: a sump; aninlet/outlet portion extending from one end of the sump having anoutside diameter that is smaller than an outside diameter of the sump,and comprising an inlet port and an outlet port aligned with a centralaxis of the filter cartridge; a first lug on the inlet/outlet portionprotruding outwardly from a surface of the inlet/outlet portion in aradial direction perpendicular to the central axis; a shoulder surfacethat is formed by the intersection of the sump and the inlet/outletportion; a filter disposed within the sump; and the first lug has acurved surface facing the shoulder surface and a cross sectioncomprising a half-moon shape, the curved surface being axially spacedfrom the shoulder surface to form a space between the curved surface andthe shoulder surface.
 8. The filter cartridge of claim 7 furthercomprising a mechanical keying system on the inlet/outlet portion. 9.The filter cartridge of claim 8 wherein the mechanical keying systemcomprises protrusions and depressions on the inlet/outlet portion. 10.The filter cartridge of claim 7 wherein the inlet/outlet portion furthercomprises one or more protrusions that protrude outwardly in a radialdirection perpendicular to the central axis.
 11. The filter cartridge ofclaim 10 wherein the one or more protrusions are complementary to one ormore depressions on a manifold.
 12. A filter cartridge comprising: asump; an inlet/outlet portion extending from one end of the sump havingan outside diameter that is smaller than an outside diameter of thesump, and comprising an inlet port and an outlet port; a first lug onthe inlet/outlet portion protruding outwardly from a surface of theinlet/outlet portion in a radial direction from a central axis of thefilter cartridge; a shoulder surface that is formed by the intersectionof the sump and the inlet/outlet portion; a filter disposed within thesump; and a curved surface on the first lug facing the shoulder surface,the curved surface being axially spaced from the shoulder surface toform a space between the curved surface and the shoulder surface; andwherein the curved surface is engagable with an insertion cam of a spoolvalve manifold and the filter cartridge is installed into the spoolvalve manifold without a rotation of the filter cartridge about thecentral axis.
 13. The filter cartridge of claim 12 further comprising amechanical keying system on the inlet/outlet portion.
 14. The filtercartridge of claim 13 wherein the mechanical keying system comprisesprotrusions and depressions on the inlet/outlet portion.
 15. The filtercartridge of claim 12 wherein the inlet/outlet portion further comprisesone or more protrusions that protrude outwardly in a radial directionperpendicular to the central axis.
 16. The filter cartridge of claim 15wherein the one or more protrusions are complementary to one or moredepressions on the spool valve manifold.
 17. A method comprising:installing the filter cartridge of claim 12 into the spool valvemanifold by rotating a valve body of the spool valve manifold about anaxis, engaging the curved surface with the insertion cam, and moving thefilter cartridge perpendicularly relative to the axis.
 18. The method ofclaim 17 further comprising releasing the filter cartridge from thespool valve manifold by rotating a valve body of the spool valvemanifold about an axis, engaging the shoulder surface with an ejectioncam of the spool valve manifold, and moving the filter cartridgeperpendicularly relative to the axis.
 19. The method of claim 17 whereinthe curved surface comprises a half-moon shape.
 20. The method of claim18 wherein the curved surface comprises a half-moon shape.